Basil.
Basil (Ocimanz, L. ; Didynamia Gymnospe•mia; Labial a', Juss.) Two species are cultivated, both natives of the East, and both annual plants.
419. Sweet Basil (0. basilicum, L.) is generally sown on a hotbed in the end of March, and planted out in May, at eight or ten inches square. If raised from the hotbed in small tufts, with a ball of earth attached, it is sure to suc ceed. In dry weather, libe•al,atering is proper. In a sheltered situation, sweet basil, thus treated, rises to about a foot in height. if sown at once in the open border, the plants are late and small. The leaves and small leafy tops are the parts used. On account of its strong flavour of cloves, basil is often in demand where highly seasoned dishes are in use : a few leaves are sometimes introduced into a salad, and not unfrequently into soups.
420. Bush Basil, (0. minimum, L ) is little more than half the size of the common basil. It forms a round orbicular bushy head. it is raised on a hot-bed in the same way as the other, but should be planted out in a richer soil, and in a warmer situation. The same pelts of the plant are used, and for the same purposes.
In very favourable seasons, and in the south of England, both species sometimes ripen their seed ; but in general, Italian seed may be depended on, Tarragon.
421. Tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus, L. ; S'yngenesia Polygamia evualis ; Corymbilere, Juss.) is a perennial plant, a native of Siberia. which was cultivated in gardens in the dune of Gerarde. It rises a foot and a hall high, is branched, and has narrow leaves, green on both sick. s. The leaves and tender tips are used as an ingredient of pickles, for the sake of their fragrant smell and warm aromatic taste. A simple infusion or them in vinegar makes a plea sant fish-sauce. In France, tarragon is often added to salads, that its agreeable pungency may correct the coldness of other herbs ; and it is frequently put in soups.
In a dry loamy soil, tarragon proves quite a hardy plant ; but it is apt to perish in a wet situation. It is easily pro pagated by parting the roots, or by planting in the spring young shoots with only two or three fibres. During the summer mouths, even cuttings will grow; but both the shoots and cuttings must be plentifully watered till they strike root. The plant is therefore seldom raised from
the seed. The stems containing the leaves and tops are sometimes dried for winner use ; and if fresh young tops be wanted at that season, they can soon be procured by keep ing some roots in pots, and placing these in a hot-bed or stove.
422. Common Wormwood, which is another species of Artemisia, (A. absinthium, L.) was formerly kept in gar dens, being much used as a vermifuge. It is a nativo plant, figured in " English Botany," t. 1230, and wild spe cimens are more powerful than cultivated ones. It is easily propagated by slips or cuttings. The growth of this plant, it may be remarked, should be encouraged in poultry walks, it being found beneficial to them. The distillers of great still whisky in Scotland sometimes employ it in place of hops, and for their use small fields of it are occa sionally sown.
' Rosemary.
423. Rosemary (Rosmarinus ofcinalis, L ; Diandria Monogynia ; Labiate, Juss.) is a native of the south of Eu rope. but if planted on a dry soil, in a sheltered garden, it withstands out ordina ty winters. When its roots enter the crevices at the hale of an old wall, the plant is not in jured by the severest frosts. It is an evergreen shrubby plant, rising sometimes six or eight feet high; the leaves are sessile, linear, dark green above, greyish or whitish underneath ; the blossoms of a pale blue colour. As it is a highly aromatic and a medicinal plant, a few bushss should be in every garden. An infusion of the leaves is grateful to many people. The flowers and calyces form a principal ingredient employed by the makers of what is called Hungary water. A rosemary sprig is the emblem of remembrance. " There's rosemary ; that's for remem brance," says the distracted Ophelia, in Shakspeare. In some parts of the west of England, the sprigs are still distributed to the company at funerals, and often thrown into the grave upon the coffin of the deceased. Aber crombie, in his Practical Gardener, alludes to this prac tice, but supposes the motive to be the "preveating of contagion." There arc varieties, with white-striped and with yellow-st•iped leaves ; the former rather tender.